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• Joint DBA/DBAF Board Meeting

  • Start
    09/17/2025
  •  
  • End
    05/20/2026
  • Schedule
    8 sessions
  • Location
    Alternating Zoom and in Person (see list)

  Locations are as follows: 

  • June 12, 2025 – Annual Dinner
  • September 17, 2025 – In person (at Dickinson Wright, 500 Woodward 40th Floor Suite 40000, Detroit)
  • October 15, 2025 – Zoom
  • November 19, 2025 – In person (at Miller Canfield)
  • January 21, 2026 – Zoom
  • February 18, 2026 – In person
  • March 18, 2026 – Zoom
  • April 15, 2026 – In person
  • May 20, 2026 – Zoom

  (No meetings in July, August, or December)
  

  Show details
• 21st Annual Dennis W. Archer Public Service Award Gala

  • When
    11/13/2025
  •  
    5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Detroit Yacht Club

  Register

  November 13, 2025
  Detroit Yacht Club
  5:00 – 8:00 pm

  
  

  Join the judges and mayors in recognizing Warren C. Evans, Wayne County Executive, at the 21st Annual Dennis W. Archer Public Service Award Gala.

  Archer Award winners all have one thing in common – each is an attorney or jurist who exemplifies the ideal of the law as public service. Proceeds will fund free legal clinics and community outreach programs.

  Get your name out to over 27,000+ lawyers in metropolitan Detroit. 400+ attendees will be gathering for an evening of networking, excellent food and celebrating with Warren C. Evans. Right-click to DOWNLOAD SPONSORSHIP FORM or click here to see the past awardees.

  Emcee: Charlie Langton, broadcast anchor at WJBK FOX 2 in Detroit and attorney.

  90% of funds raised are directly allocated to pro-bono legal services, educational and student activities.
  

  For information, please contact Darlene Trudell at 248 408-6919 or dtrudell@detroitlawyer.org.

  
  

  PLATINUM SPONSORS:
  

  Board Members of the Detroit Bar Association and Foundation

  
  

  DIAMOND SPONSORS:

  
  

  
  

  
  

  GOLD SPONSORS:

  
  
  

  

   
  

  

  
  

  SILVER SPONSORS:
  Bodman
  Brooks Wilkins Sharkey & Turco PLLC
  Butzel
   Dykema
  Jefferson Law Center
  Jones Day 
  Kerr Russell
   Michigan State University College of Law
   University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
  Vision Computer Solutions
  Wayne State University Law School
  Zausmer, P.C.

  BRONZE SPONSORS:
  Atnip & Associates, PLLC
  Bush Seyferth 
  Clark Hill
  Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC 
  Hickey Hauck Bishoff Jeffers & Seabolt, PLLC
  Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC
  JAMS
  McDonald Hopkins
  Miller & Tischler, P.C.
  Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone, PLC
  Miller Johnson
  Slater Seibert, PLLC
  Sommers Schwartz, P.C.
  U.S. Legal Support

  BENEFACTORS:
  Foley & Lardner LLP
  Lewis & Munday, P.C.
  Mediation Tribunal Services

  CONTRIBUTORS:
  Altior Law, P.C.
  Erin Archerd
  Tishia Browning
  Ray Carey
  Hon. Ponce D. Clay
  Sarah Cylkowski
  William Gilbride, Jr., Mediator, Special Master, Receiver
  Luis Gomez
  Deborah Gordon Law
  Michael Donnelly 
   Fortz Legal
   J. J. Conway Law
   Kajy Law Firm, PLLC
  Kramer, Corbett, Harding & Dombrowski
  Lingual Interpretation Services
   Christopher A. Merritt
   Roger P. Meyers 
   Ottenwess Law
  Eric Poe
  Stefanie Reagan
   John Rhoades
  James Rosenfeld
  Suzanne C. Stanczyk, PLLC
  Hon. Cynthia Diane Stephens
   Tamara Knapp Advisory
  Lisa Timmons
   Veritext
   

  IN-KIND SPONSOR:
  Detroit Legal News

  Show details
• Fall 2025 Admissions Ceremony

  • When
    11/24/2025
  •  
    12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    2 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48226, 13th Floor auditorium

  Join us for this unique opportunity to celebrate the success of qualifying attorneys who are entering the legal profession.
  

  The Detroit Bar and Third Circuit Court will conduct an Admissions Ceremony on Monday, November 24, 2025. The orders of admission will be sent to the State Bar of Michigan from the Wayne County Clerk’s Office after the ceremony.

  Event Timeline:
  12:30-1:30 p.m. Ceremony
  1:30-2:00 p.m. Light Refreshments

  The admissions ceremony marks the commencement of individuals beginning the practice of law and is celebrated with friends and family as the venerated lawyers and judges welcome the new lawyers into the profession.
  Newly admitted attorneys to the Bar are eligible for a one-year free Detroit Bar Association membership. Click here to join.

  If you wish to participate in the Swearing-In Ceremony in person on Monday, November 24, 2025, in the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 13th Floor auditorium located at 2 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48226, please provide the following documents to the Wayne County Clerk’s Office, room 201 of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center no later than Thursday, November 20, 2025 by 4:30 p.m.

  1.Bar Admission Letter (if you waived the Bar in Michigan, please provide both letters you received)

  2. Receipt from GovPay (www.govpaynow.com, use code 6223, Civil Action Filing Fees, Case #TBD, Bar Admission option - $25.00)

  3. Name of Sponsor (if applicable, but not required)

  4. Address of New Attorney
  

  NOTE: You must allow us at least 24 hours to prepare your paperwork. You must e-mail all the above documents/information to wcbaradmission@waynecounty.com no later than Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.

  If you wish to be sworn in in a Private Ceremony, have questions, or want to register, please contact Cynthia Depaulis of the Wayne County Clerk’s Office at wcbaradmission@waynecounty.com or call 313-224-5509 or 313-224-5510. Office Hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
  

  For more information about the Detroit Bar, please contact Sheena Law Killinger at slawkillinger@detroitlawyer.org.

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• The One Big Beautiful Bill Act & Market Trends: Insights for Michigan’s Legal Minds

  • When
    12/03/2025
  •  
    12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Online Zoom

  Register

  Wednesday, December 3, 2025
  

  12 - 1 p.m.
  Zoom Platform

  Join Mercer Advisors for a timely and insightful webinar designed for legal professionals across Michigan. We’ll unpack the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a new tax law that brings unchanged rates, shifting brackets, and fresh credits—offering clarity on how these changes may impact your clients and your practice.

  We’ll also explore the key macro and market themes shaping the year ahead, including our analysis of economic growth, policy developments, and market dynamics. Whether you're advising clients through financial transitions or simply staying informed, this session will equip you with the knowledge to navigate both legal and economic landscapes with confidence.

  Presenters:

  • Shannon Gaskin, Regional Vice President, Mercer Advisors
    
  • Jon Gossens, Senior Investment Strategist, Mercer Advisors
    
  • David Oh,  Vice President of Wealth Strategy, Mercer Advisors
    

  Members $15
  Nonmembers $35

  To update your membership status or to join, visit  https://www.detroitlawyer.org/join or contact Sheena Law-Killinger at slawkillinger@detroitlawyer.org.

  SPONSOR:

  
  

  
  

  The information provided in this programming does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available are for general informational purposes only.

  
  

  Show details
• 25 in '25 Diversity & Inclusion Reflections Meeting

  • When
    12/04/2025
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  The Detroit Bar Association Diversity & Inclusion Committee
  and Ingham County Bar Association Presents

   The 25 in '25 Diversity & Inclusion Reflections Meeting

  December 4, 2025
  4-5 p.m. - Zoom

  The Detroit Bar Association & Ingham County Bar Association are wrapping up the 25 in '25 D&I Challenge. Join us for the 2025 D&I Reflections meeting with special guests Michigan Supreme Court Justice  Hon. Elizabeth Welch and Michigan’s 36th District Court Judge Hon. Austin W. Garrett, co-chairs of the Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Michigan Judiciary, who will speak about the Commission’s recent efforts. 

  
  

  Austin W. Garrett is Co-Chair of the Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Michigan Judiciary. He serves as a judge at Michigan’s 36th District Court and is currently assigned to the Domestic Violence docket and presides over misdemeanor domestic violence complaints in the City of Detroit. Additionally, Austin serves as a Street Outreach Court judge; a specialty court dealing with defendants that are homeless or at risk of homelessness. As a native Detroiter, Austin is grateful to serve in the city where he was born and raised and relishes the opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of Detroiters. Judge Garrett maintains membership in several professional organizations, including the Association of Black Judges of Michigan, the State Bar of Michigan’s Civil Procedure and Courts Committee, the Detroit Bar Association, Michigan Association for Justice, Wolverine Bar Association, D. Augustus Straker Bar Association, and the Black Women Lawyer’s Association.
  

  Justice Elizabeth M. Welch joined the Michigan Supreme Court on January 1, 2021. She currently serves on the Michigan Judicial Council and as the Justice liaison to Judicial Information Services (JIS), which includes data gathering and e-filing programs. She also co-chairs the Commission on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Previously, she was a liaison to the Michigan Judicial Institute and served on committees for the Justice for All Commission. She received her law degree from Ohio State University and her undergraduate degree from Penn State University.
  

  Justice Welch has a long history of serving professional and nonprofit boards. She currently is Vice President of the Steelcase Foundation and serves as an Ambassador for the Grand Valley University Foundation. Prior to her joining the Court, Justice Welch was a trustee on her local school board and worked for more than 15 years on public education and voting rights policy.

  Justice Welch has received several awards in recognition for her public school and other community work. She and her husband Brian live in Grand Rapids and have four adult children.

  
  

  Download the 25 in '25 Challenge PDF

  For questions, contact Sheena Law-Killinger at slawkillinger@detroitlawyer.org.
  

  
  

  

  The information provided in this programming does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available are for general informational purposes only.
  

  Show details
• 2025 Jingle Mingle Holiday Celebration

  • When
    12/08/2025
  •  
    5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Location
    Union Assembly Detroit

  Register

  December 8, 2025
  

  Union Assembly Detroit
   5:30-8:30 pm

  Celebrate the season at Union Assembly in Detroit, a local favorite known for its modern American comfort food and nostalgic retro vibe. Enjoy an evening of connection and cheer as you share conversations, memories, and laughter with colleagues and friends—reflecting on the highlights of 2025 and looking ahead to 2026.
  

  Guests will be treated to heavy hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and festive holiday musical entertainment, all in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

  $45 member
  $65 non-member
  $25 student
  Judges may attend for free.

  Includes hors d'oeuvres and cash bar.  

  Contact Sheena Law-Killinger at slawkillinger@detroitlawyer.org.

  
  

  ANNUAL SPONSORS:

  
  

  Show details
• New Lawyer Boot Camp 2026

  • Start
    01/22/2026
  •  
  • End
    01/29/2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Zoom and CAYMC

  Register

  Join the Detroit Bar Association in this immersive 1.5-day workshop covering everything a new attorney practicing in Wayne County needs to know to hit the ground running. 

  Presentations are led by seasoned Detroit Bar members practicing regularly within the Criminal, Family, Juvenile and Civil Divisions.

  Thursday, January 22, 2026 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Via Zoom

  The Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan will give a procedural overview of Wayne County Courts and their respective divisions, followed by practical guidance from a group of experienced attorneys practicing regularly within the Criminal, Family, Juvenile and Civil Divisions. The half-day virtual workshop will conclude with a discussion on the perils and pitfalls of applying Artificial Intelligence to your legal services.

  Thursday, January 29, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.

  This will be an in-person session including a tour of CAYMC and Phases of Litigation covering everything from discovery and depositions to juggling multiple hearings and introduction to trial practice. Experienced Detroit attorneys will lead you through the specifics of motion filing, discovery and depositions, successful trial practice, appeals, alternative dispute resolution and settlement conferences. The day will also include presentations focused on starting your career with wellness in mind, professional presence via zoom and a practical guide to interacting with the courts, judges and staff. 

  You must be a Detroit Bar Member to register. Registration is $65 for both sessions. To join, visit https://www.detroitlawyer.org/join/. 

  Past Presenters Include:
  

  • Fran Yturri, Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan
  • Anthea E. Papista, Papista & Papista, PLC
    
  • Lynda McGhee, Level Up Legacy Planning
  • Tracey Cooley, Detroit Bar Association
    
  • Michael E. Geraghty, Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook, P.C.
    
  • Sarah Wykoff, Kutinsky PLLC
    
  • Chris Filiatraut, Mike Morse Law Firm
    
  • Tom Grden, State Bar of Michigan Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program 
    
  • Sue Stanczyk, Suzanne C. Stanczyk, PLLC 

  Reach out to Sheena Law-Killinger to register or with questions at slawkillinger@detroitlawyer.org.
  

  
  

  The information provided in this programming does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available are for general informational purposes only.
  

  
  

  Show details
• Inn of Court 2026

  • Start
    02/10/2026
  •  
  • End
    04/07/2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    5 sessions
  • Location
    Miller Canfield

  Register

  The IOC season will kick off on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The meetings are held twice monthly on Tuesdays at Miller Canfield and begin with a soft start social period  and dinner at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The 2026 Inn of Court dates are:

  • Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Kick Off Event Social Start/Dinner 5:30pm, program 6:00 – 7:00pm – Miller Canfield
  • Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Social Start/Dinner 5:30pm, program 6:00 – 7:00pm – Miller Canfield
  • Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Social Start/Dinner 5:30pm, program 6:00 – 7:00pm – Miller Canfield
  • Tuesday, March 24 , 2026, Social Start/Dinner 5:30pm, program 6:00 – 7:00pm – Miller Canfield
  • Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Closing Event Social Start/Dinner 5:30pm, program 6:00 – 7:00pm – Miller Canfield

  Membership and participation in the Detroit Bar IOC is an exclusive benefit available only to Detroit Bar members.  Non-members must join the Detroit Bar when they join the IOC.
  

  The IOC dues for the 2026 program year are $75 for Masters, $50 for Barristers and Associates, and $25 for Law Clerks. This fee covers the costs for program administration and food and beverages during the season.

  TO REGISTER: Use the link on this page and email your resumé to Sheena Law-Killinger at slawkillinger@detroitlawyer.org. The deadline to register is Friday, January 30, 2026.

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• "Raising the Bar" 2026 Annual Dinner

  • When
    06/11/2026
  •  
    5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Detroit Golf Club, 17911 Hamilton Rd., Detroit MI

  "Raising the Bar" 190th Annual Dinner

  June 11, 2026
   Detroit Golf Club
  5–8 p.m.

  Don’t miss your chance to be a part of Raising the Bar 2026, the Detroit Bar Association's annual meeting—held at the iconic Detroit Golf Club.

  Join us for an evening of celebration and recognition, including the installation of Detroit Bar officers and awarding those who have shown exceptional dedication to the outreach and growth of the law, within both the Detroit Bar and community.

  To sponsor, contact Darlene Trudell at dtrudell@detroitlawyer.org or 248-408-6919. 
  

  Last year's sponsors:

  DIAMOND SPONSORS:
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  EMERALD SPONSORS:

  

  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  SAPPHIRE SPONSORS:

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  ANNUAL SPONSORS:

  
  

  
  

  PHOTO BOOTH SPONSOR:
  
  

  PRINTING SPONSOR:
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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